New on DVD: 'Veronica Mars'

By Rick Bentley

Published 4:49 pm, Wednesday, May 7, 2014

"Veronica Mars": The film picks up nine years after Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) left Neptune. She's on the fast track to a job with a prestigious New York law firm. That's when she is called home to help her old high school friend, Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), who is the prime suspect in the murder of his pop star girlfriend. Rob Thomas creates a film that will draw in those who never saw the series. For the newbies, he provides the right amount of exposition to explain who all of the characters are — without making the production feel slow to all of the loyal fans. Because he finds that balance, the film is both a loving gift for those who adore the series and a fun and entertaining murder mystery for those who don't know Veronica Mars from Bruno Mars. Author Thomas Wolfe professed you can't go home again. "Veronica Mars" proves him wrong. This trip back to her old mystery-solving stomping ground is pleasantly entertaining for the uniformed and a perfect thank you to all of the loyal fans.

"The Rodgers & Hammerstein Blu-ray Collection": The songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II created some of the most iconic musicals of the 20th century. This collection features six of the 15-time Academy Award-winning movie musicals by the team. The set features digital restorations of "The King and I," "Carousel," "Oklahoma!," "State Fair," "The Sound of Music" and "South Pacific." Bonus materials include a sing-along version of "The King and I" and more than an hour of behind-the-scenes features for "Oklahoma!."

"Blazing Saddles": The 40th anniversary edition of the comedy is being released on Blu-ray. In any form, this is a must own for anyone who loves film comedy. The film, starring Gene Wilder and Cleavon Little, from director/writer Mel Brooks, is considered one of the top film comedies of all time. Included in the special edition release is the featurette "Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks' Wild, Wild West" in which Brooks reflects on his own movie-making chutzpah and the film's cultural impact on audiences of all generations. It also includes 10 art cards with quotes and images from the film plus a cast reunion documentary and "Black Bart," the 1975 television pilot inspired by the movie.

Also new on DVD: "Making the Rules": Robin Thicke's feature film debut; "Desert Riders": The story of human trafficking behind camel racing; "Truth": The line between love and lies blur.; "Your Inner Fish": Three-part series is hosted by paleobiologist Dr. Neil Shubin; "Republic of Doyle, Season 1": Follows a father (Sean McGinley) and son (Allan Hawco) sleuthing team; "7 Boxes": Teen offered $100 to deliver seven boxes; "La Madame (Parte 1): After The Madame is kidnapped by a mob boss, she's forced to tell the stories of each of her girls; "Lewis Black: Old Yeller": Comedian performs in Atlantic City; "Simon and the Oaks": Two very different families come together during World War II; "Still Mine": James Cromwell and Genevieve Bujold star in this film that proves love is the ultimate triumph.; "Generation War": German epic drama spanning over five years beginning in Berlin in 1941.; "Hot Guys With Guns": Modern take on old-fashioned detective story.; "The Dinosaur Experiment": Local cattle ranch's breeding ground for velociraptors.; "Separate But Equal": Sidney Poitier stars in the film about events leading up to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling.